RailHawks Strengthen 2016 Squad With Three Major Signings

The Carolina RailHawks have signed three additional players to the roster ahead of the 2016 NASL season. Former Atlanta Silverbacks defender Paul Black, former Indy Eleven midfielder Marvin Ceballos, and former Whitecaps FC II forward Billy Schuler (pending ITC approval); will join the RailHawks’ championship push in 2016.

Defender Paul Black joins the RailHawks following a strong 2015 season with the Atlanta Silverbacks. Black, a 25-year-old from Rochdale, England, anchored the Silverbacks’ defense last season, playing 2,538 minutes in 29 appearances.

Despite his young age, Black possesses an experienced skillset that will bolster the RailHawks’ backline in 2016. After progressing through Manchester City’s youth system, Black played professionally in England for eight years, including four years with Oldham Athletic, one year with Tranmere Rovers, one year with Carlisle United, one year with Mansfield Town, and one year with Cheltenham Town. Black earned 5,496 playing minutes in his 75 appearances in England’s League One and League Two.

Marvin Ceballos, another 2015 NASL standout, also joins the RailHawks for the 2016 season. Ceballos, a native of Guatemala City, Guatemala, began his professional career with Liga Nacional side Comunicaciones in 2011. The explosive midfielder netted eight goals and earned 3,385 playing minutes in his three seasons with Comunicaciones.

After joining Indy Eleven in 2015, Ceballos immediately asserted himself as one of the top young midfielders in the NASL thanks to his vision and technical skillset. The 23-year-old scored two goals in his 12 appearances for Indy Eleven last season. Ceballos was the first outdoor player to net a goal for his country in a FIFA tournament when he score the game winner against Croatia in the FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia 2011, boosting his country to the knockout round. He has also appeared with Guatemala’s senior national team five times, including three caps last summer.

The RailHawks’ third signee is former-UNC star Billy Schuler. Schuler, 25, led the Tar Heels’ attack from 2008 until 2011. The forward helped the Tar Heels reach the NCAA Championship match in 2008, and helped his squad win the NCAA Championship in 2011.

Following his impressive collegiate career, Schuler joined Swedish club Hammarby for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, in which he scored two goals in 26 appearances. The Allentown, New Jersey, native returned to the US in 2014, joining Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes for one season before transferring to Whitecaps FC II of the United Soccer League for the 2015 season. Schuler logged 890 playing minutes and scored two goals in his 26 appearances with Vancouver.